HRW maintained in the report that violence on the part of both the government and secessionists was adversely affecting life in the northwest and southwest regions. They called on both parties and other interested parties to intervene to stop the crisis.

The government, however, stressed that it was working relentlessly to resolve this crisis in order to return to lasting peace, and reiterates its commitment to preserving the country’s unity and territorial integrity, in strict compliance with the international legal instruments to which it is signatory and its domestic legislation.